, 1887-09-13

building presents a portal of magnificent
proportions from which the portiere OF
gorgeous quilt (early English) is topped
aside, disclosing a floor of slabs, tho
knapsacks and stores and odorous regions
beyond. The dining o is a leafy
roof, under which a table is made with
the smooth side of the ubiquitous slab
uppermost, the supports being trees
sawed off at the needed height. Along
the sides of the table seats are arranged,
and occupying these seats just at present
are the campers, finishing the MONDAY
meal and discussing with absorbing in
terest plans for securing a great store of
logs and planks which Steenie had dis
covered in a bend of the river wedged in
among the rocks. To raft them down
and bring them in to add to the large
pile already drying a few feet from the
fire protected by sloping slabs) against
the proverbial rainy day, would be an
afternoons work for the boys. Careful
Martha, pail in hand, had started for the
blackberry patch a few rods away.
Left to her own sweet company Miss
Fleming proceeded to enjoy herself in her
own way. With an armful of books
within reach, she ensconced herself in
her own particular hammock, with Car
(who was evidently overburdened with a
sense of his responsibility in this unusual
state of affairs, very wide awake, lying
on the ground at her side.
Dipping here and there, now into one
book, then into another, and varying the
monotony by occasionally slipping out to
replenish the fire, she finally became
enamored of "Hiawatha," and read
steadily to the end. Folding her idle lit
tie hands unde her fanciful little head,
she was soon lost in a waking dream, in
a repose that was almost sleep. The
lofty trees were the forest primeval, the
''lodge" a wigwam, and she herself a
dusky maiden awaiting the return of the
stately red skinned warriors from the
chase.
She was reused from her reverie by a
low growl from the watchful Gar; in the
one moment she heard a cracking of
twigs, and the next saw. with startled
eyes, a masculine figure emerge from one
of the side paths and heard a surprised,
81 beg your pardon, madam, but 1 nave
been wandering in this infer-this beastly
laurel thicket the greater part of the day.
Can you direct me to the -
By this time Bess, fully awakened, had
decided with womanly intuition hat the
intruder was a gentleman in the highest
sense of the word, and noting the weari-
ness in the quiet words and the steady
brown eyes, she rose quickly with hospit-
able purpose intent, but with her
thoughts still tinged with "Hiawatha,"
she said, whimsically:
"If the pale faced stranger tarry by
this camp fire until the warriors return,
they will guide him through the forest
to thew igwam he seeks"
Il think l will not trouble you," be-
gan the other, uneasly; but the brave
daughter of the forest, made as usual
more determined by opposition, said
firmly:
But the child of the bald headed eagle
will be obeyed," and seconded by Gar,
who was plainly divided between the CON
hicting desire to swear eternal friendship
to the newcomer or to spring upon him
with fell intent, she motioned him to the
hammock she had just left.
Bess watched him with puzzled eyes as
he flung himself upon her cushions. See
ing the pallor about the firm mouth that
told of physical suffering, an inspiration,
born of her experience as the sister of
three brothers, came to the rescue, and
with hopeful face she said: Watch him.
Gar" and moved quickly away.
In a few minutes the fragrant odor of
coffee was waited to the straggler with
such reviving effect hat he opened widely
his nearly closed eyes and gazed with
deep interest on the busy figure at the
fire before him. Aside from her occupa-
ton, SO pleasing to the manly contempla-
ton, the figure itself was well worthy of
study. The slim, 1.-the young form was
clothed in a dark green flannel, without
furbelows or snarls of any kind to per-
pick the eye. The rebellious dark hair
hung in a heavy braid behind, and escaped
in wavy locks on the smooth forehead.
The fire had flushed the sweet face that
was b%rooding with such absorbed express
sion over the coffee pot.
In a second more the coffee pot was
steaming on a hot stone by the fire, and
Miss Fleming disappeared in the direction
of the murmuring river, to reappear with
some bright little tin pals dripping with
cool water. From one of these some
trout were gayly suffering over the cool
fire; then from a mysterious chest ap-
peared fresh bread, and from other pals
golden butter, cream and blackberries,
and our traveller was soon partaking of a
most appetizing little repast, under which
reviving influence he forgot the embar-
rassment that had nearly consumed him.
Soon a responsive chord was struck by
WV hdOuIS living liedTtS, anu Jney were
chatting like old friends. Bess produced
a curious bug that puzzled her natural
history, and the brown hair and the dark
bent over it. At this thrilling moment
the raftsmen, each with an armful of
planks, arrived on the scene. The biolo-
gists turn.
Boys, this gentleman"- began
Bess.
wal Grahaml" exclaimed the three,
in startled chorus.
"Who? Not Val Grahamr' cried Bess,
with horror filed eyes and paling check;
out, reading confirmation in the faces
before her, she drops hastily the precious
bug, flashes an angry glance at the
owner of that name, and turning runs
swiftly into the woods.
"What have 1 done? Who is she?" he
asks, with a perplexed look.
"Why, it's our Bess, and she knows
you hate girls and won't want her here.
How did you happen to come? Thought
you were sickl" questioned the boys al
together.
80 l was, but 1 am better; only l lost
myself in this maze and nearly tramped
....,If a.. l-.Al- q. u